Remembering a hanging

Published: 29 January 2007

Forty years ago this week Ronald Ryan had a noose put around his neck at the former Pentridge Prison in Victoria. With the authority of the state government, he was killed. Ryan was the last man hanged in Australia, and many believe he will always retain that infamous privilege. Reasoned argument suggests that it is hard for a civilised society to support the taking of the life in order to uphold the value of human life. Such argument in Australia will not prevent other countries continuing the practice - some, such as China and Singapore, continue to practice it with great enthusiasm - Fr Peter Norden